‘Ace of Cakes’ Baker Duff Goldman on Packing His Bags for LA

It’s the last season for our favorite Baltimore hipster cake club, Ace of Cakes, and head baker and resident hottie Duff Goldman is packing his bags and headed for warmer climates.

Goldman recently spoke to Speakeasy about his plans for Los Angeles ahead and a look back at life in Charm City, with a dash of wishful thinking about the Royal Wedding.

Speakeasy: So if you were doing the Royal wedding, what would the cake look like?

Duff Goldman: You’ve got to do something really classy, pretty traditional and it’s got to really bring the “wow. It would have to be absolutely stunning. But that being said, there’s got to be somewhat contemporary – I think that Snoop Dog is going to the wedding. It’s a really fine line to walk.

Do you even remember the wedding cake at Diana’s wedding? Does anyone? Is it your fault that people now talk about the wedding cakes as much as the dress?

If you want to say that it’s all my fault that people want to see the wedding cake and talk about the cake, I’m cool with that. I’m proud. I’m honored.

Why end with season 10?

We stopped filming a couple months ago. We’d been doing it five years and we all thought – from Food Network and all of us – that we need to figure out something new to do. It’s not that we’re burned out. We just need to find a different direction.

Is it weird without the cameras around?

We miss the guys on the film crew. They were always here and hanging out and they’re part of why it’s so light-hearted. They were all really cool guys and chill and it made if fun for everyone. They were very entertained by us being who we are. And we’re still those goofy people, even without any cameras.

You mentioned that you’re traveling around speaking a lot. Do you miss the baking?

Honestly, yeah. Really, I started a cake shop because I like to decorate cakes. It’s a great creative outlet. It’s pretty rare that I get to decorate a cake from start to finish anymore.

So what do you do?

I do draw a lot – I was a grafitti artist and I’m always sketching, on a plane I’m sketching. I always have a laptop, my phone, a book and a sketchpad. And I’m in a band and that’s a really good release of creative energy.

So why move to Los Angeles?

I was sick of driving to Vegas! We’ve been thinking that it’s time to have a West Coast store. I don’t want to open any more than two. And some people from Baltimore are coming with me to L.A. We’ll rotate because we’re going to miss each other. We really are a small family.